RIVERS UNITED GET TOUGH CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP

By: Gyang Dakwo

Rivers United have been handed a tough test in the CAF Champions League group stage after being drawn in Group A with RS Berkane of Morocco, Pyramids of Egypt, and Power Dynamos of Zambia.

The draws took place on Monday in Johannesburg, where the former NPFL champions learned their fate. Rivers United reached the group stage after edging past Black Bulls of Mozambique 3–2 on aggregate in the second preliminary round.

It was not an easy path for the Nigerian side, as they also survived a close contest against Aigles of the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier in the qualifiers. Both victories came by just one-goal aggregates, showing how hard the team had to fight to advance.

Now, they will have to face some of the continent’s toughest clubs. Pyramids are the defending champions of the CAF Champions League, while RS Berkane lifted the CAF Confederation Cup last season. Power Dynamos are also back in the competition after missing out for two seasons.

Although Nigeria remains one of Africa’s football powerhouses, only one Nigerian club, Enyimba International, has ever lifted the Champions League trophy. Enyimba achieved the feat with back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, but no Nigerian team has managed to repeat the success since then.

Rivers United will play each of their group opponents home and away, and the top two teams from every group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Matchday One is set for November 21 and 22, while the final group games will take place on February 13 and 14, 2026.